Shloka 14
The Greatness of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya) and Avimukta’s Liberative Power
इदं गुह्यतमं क्षेत्रं सर्वप्राणिसुखावहम् । मोक्षदं सर्वजंतूनां वैष्णवं शैवमेव च ॥ १४ ॥
idaṃ guhyatamaṃ kṣetraṃ sarvaprāṇisukhāvaham | mokṣadaṃ sarvajaṃtūnāṃ vaiṣṇavaṃ śaivameva ca || 14 ||
इदं गुह्यतमं क्षेत्रं सर्वप्राणिसुखावहम्। मोक्षदं सर्वजन्तूनां वैष्णवं शैवमेव च॥
Narada (teaching in a Tirtha-Mahatmya setting; traditional dialogue stream with Sanatkumara tradition)
Vrata: none
Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta (peace)","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta (wonder)","emotional_journey":"A quiet unveiling of Kāśī’s ‘most secret’ greatness expands into universal benevolence—happiness and mokṣa for all beings—culminating in an explicit reconciliation: it is both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva."}
FAQs
It declares a particular kṣetra to be supremely sacred—capable of giving universal well-being (sukha) and the highest fruit, mokṣa—showing that tirtha-sevā can culminate in liberation.
By calling the kṣetra both Vaiṣṇava and Śaiva, it frames devotion as inclusive—honoring Viṣṇu and Śiva without sectarian conflict—so the pilgrim’s bhakti becomes single-pointed toward the Supreme through reverence expressed at the holy site.
Indirectly, it points to Tīrtha-yātrā and kṣetra-dharma as applied religious practice; while no specific Vedāṅga is named, the verse supports ritual and observance frameworks typically guided by Kalpa (procedure) and Dharmaśāstra norms in pilgrimage contexts.